Patents by Inventor Josef Rutz

Josef Rutz has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9445663
    Abstract: A sliding guide element for moveable fastening a tabletop on bearing struts of a table frame comprises a main body configured to fasten to the underside of a tabletop, comprising a guiding portion configured to insert into a guide slot in bearing struts and moveable in the guide slot wherein the guide portion includes lateral guide surfaces for lateral guidance in the guide slot. The sliding guide element further includes resilient snap-fit limbs arranged on mutually opposed sides of the main body of the sliding guide element and moveable between an under-engagement position and project laterally over the guide portion to engage under a wall of the bearing struts, and an insertion position in which the snap-fit limbs guide through the guide slot in the bearing struts. The sliding guide elements still further includes a resiliently flexible end stop damper on at least one end region of the sliding-guide element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventor: Josef Rutz
  • Patent number: 9364080
    Abstract: A furniture accessory includes a bracket having first and second retaining elements, a basket having first and second fastening elements that fasten the basket to the bracket by the retaining elements, wherein the basket is swivelable about a first and second axes, a slider movably mounted on the bracket for locking the first and second fastening elements with the first and second retaining elements, wherein the slider locks the first and second fastening elements with the first and second retaining elements, the slider locks the second fastening element with the second retaining element when in a first release position such that the basket may be swivelled about the second swivel axis, and wherein the slider locks the first fastening element with the first retaining element when in a second release position such that the basket may be swivelled about the first swivel axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Steelcase Werndl AG
    Inventor: Josef Rutz
  • Publication number: 20150282612
    Abstract: A furniture accessory includes a bracket having first and second retaining elements, a basket having first and second fastening elements that fasten the basket to the bracket by the retaining elements, wherein the basket is swivelable about a first and second axes, a slider movably mounted on the bracket for locking the first and second fastening elements with the first and second retaining elements, wherein the slider locks the first and second fastening elements with the first and second retaining elements, the slider locks the second fastening element with the second retaining element when in a first release position such that the basket may be swivelled about the second swivel axis, and wherein the slider locks the first fastening element with the first retaining element when in a second release position such that the basket may be swivelled about the first swivel axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Applicant: Steelcase Werndl AG
    Inventor: Josef Rutz
  • Publication number: 20150238008
    Abstract: A sliding guide element for moveable fastening a tabletop on bearing struts of a table frame comprises a main body configured to fasten to the underside of a tabletop, comprising a guiding portion configured to insert into a guide slot in bearing struts and moveable in the guide slot wherein the guide portion includes lateral guide surfaces for lateral guidance in the guide slot. The sliding guide element further includes resilient snap-fit limbs arranged on mutually opposed sides of the main body of the sliding guide element and moveable between an under-engagement position and project laterally over the guide portion to engage under a wall of the bearing struts, and an insertion position in which the snap-fit limbs guide through the guide slot in the bearing struts. The sliding guide elements still further includes a resiliently flexible end stop damper on at least one end region of the sliding-guide element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Inventor: Josef Rutz
  • Patent number: 8424413
    Abstract: An adjustment mechanism for adjustable pieces of furniture is provided with a coupling including a transmission and sub-coupling structure, where the transmission and sub-coupling structure is constructed in such a way that at least one secondary transmission is always adjusted whether one primary transmission is actuated or whether the another primary transmission is actuated. At least two catch decouplers are provided in such a way that when the at least one primary transmission is adjusted, and disengaged by an adjustment of an associated actuator, the transmission and sub-coupling structure is always also entrained and adjusted, while one of the catch decouplers cooperates with the transmission and sub-coupling structure in such a way that the adjusting or pivoting transmission and sub-coupling structure leaves a second secondary transmission and/or the second actuator unchanged in position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Steelcase Werndl AG
    Inventor: Josef Rutz
  • Patent number: 8291830
    Abstract: An improved folding table is distinguished by the following features: a locking means is provided, by means of which the table top (5) can be locked in the work or use position thereof and in the storage position thereof, the locking means can be unlocked by means of a disengagement means (15), as well as the hand-actuatable disengagement means (15a), a further foot-actuatable or shoe-actuatable disengagement means (15b) is provided, and the at least one further foot-actuatable or shoe-actuatable disengagement means (15b) is provided on the underside of the table on the table half which is lower than the pivot axis of the table top (5) and/or is lower than the hand-actuatable disengagement means (15a) when the table top (5) is pivoted into the storage position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Steelcase Werndl AG
    Inventor: Josef Rutz
  • Patent number: 8272336
    Abstract: A locking mechanism, in particular for locking a table top in the work position thereof and for releasing the table top in order to pivot it for example into an approximately vertically extending storage position, is distinguished in that the locking mechanism comprises between the fully locked position and the fully released position at least one intermediate position, in which the table top is pivotable only through a restricted angular range in a manner delimited by stops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Steelcase Werndl AG
    Inventor: Josef Rutz
  • Publication number: 20100300242
    Abstract: An improved locking mechanism, in particular for locking a table top in the work position thereof and for releasing the table top in order to pivot it for example into an approximately vertically extending storage position, is distinguished in that the locking mechanism (47) comprises between the fully locked position and the fully released position at least one intermediate position, in which the table top (5) is pivotable only through a restricted angular range in a manner delimited by stops.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventor: Josef Rutz
  • Publication number: 20100300239
    Abstract: An improved coupling means, in particular for adjustable pieces of furniture, is distinguished by the following features: the coupling means (51) comprises a transmission and coupling means (67, 167), the transmission and coupling means (67, 167) is constructed in such a way that the at least one secondary transmission means (133; 133a, 133b) is always adjusted whether one primary transmission means (131; 131a, 131b) is actuated or whether the other primary transmission means (131; 131a, 131b) is actuated, and at least two catch decoupling means (155; 155a; 155b) are provided in such a way that when the at least one primary transmission means (131; 131a or 131b) is adjusted, disengaged by an adjustment of the associated actuation means (15; 15a, 15b), the transmission and coupling means (67, 167) is always also entrained and adjusted, while the second catch decoupling means (155b) cooperates with the transmission and coupling means (67, 167) in such a way that the adjusting or pivoting transmission and cou
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventor: Josef RUTZ
  • Publication number: 20100258042
    Abstract: An improved folding table is distinguished by the following features: a locking means is provided, by means of which the table top (5) can be locked in the work or use position thereof and in the storage position thereof, the locking means can be unlocked by means of a disengagement means (15), as well as the hand-actuatable disengagement means (15a), a further foot-actuatable or shoe-actuatable disengagement means (15b) is provided, and the at least one further foot-actuatable or shoe-actuatable disengagement means (15b) is provided on the underside of the table on the table half which is lower than the pivot axis of the table top (5) and/or is lower than the hand-actuatable disengagement means (15a) when the table top (5) is pivoted into the storage position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Inventor: Josef Rutz
  • Patent number: 7726615
    Abstract: Disclosed is an improved shelf system which is characterized by the following features: an anchoring pot is provided which can be inserted in a fixed and captive manner into a corresponding bore of a shelf bottom, said bore facing the shelf bottom support; a slot opening and a screw path for a locking screw, which is offset relative thereto and runs diagonally, are provided in the anchoring pot; a portion of an anchoring section that is part of the shelf bottom support can be inserted into the slot; and the locking screw can be twisted in such a way that the shelf bottom support is directly or indirectly fixed at least in a non-positive and preferably a positive fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Steelcase Werndl AG
    Inventor: Josef Rutz
  • Publication number: 20080156950
    Abstract: Disclosed is an improved shelf system which is characterized by the following features: an anchoring pot is provided which can be inserted in a fixed and captive manner into a corresponding bore of a shelf bottom, said bore facing the shelf bottom support; a slot opening and a screw path for a locking screw, which is offset relative thereto and runs diagonally, are provided in the anchoring pot; a portion of an anchoring section that is part of the shelf bottom support can be inserted into the slot; and the locking screw can be twisted in such a way that the shelf bottom support is directly or indirectly fixed at least in a non-positive and preferably a positive fashion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2006
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: STEELCASE WERNDL AG
    Inventor: Josef Rutz